gaan1 naan4艱難艰难
Jyutpinggaan1 naan4
Yalegāan nàahn
Definition
Difficult and hard; requiring immense effort to overcome or complete, often describing one's life or experiences.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the weight of a situation or a long period of struggle rather than a simple task. It carries a sense of gravity and emotional hardship that goes beyond the casual use of 辛苦. Use it when describing life circumstances or major obstacles that require significant endurance.
Examples
This path is so difficult, how are you going to walk it?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it for minor inconveniences or simple tasks, as it sounds overly dramatic. For everyday annoyances like a heavy workload or a tiring day, 辛苦 is the appropriate choice.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
